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25.01.2022 In 2014 Alex Sims (Hand to Ground) and I milled the timber for Taranaki Farm's second A-Frame Eggmobile. We used the versatile Lucas Mill Pty Ltd - Portable Saw...mills to cut all the required dimensions for the build. The 4th eggmobile on Taranaki Farm, this structure will enter it's 8th year of service in 2021 - and still going strong. See more

25.01.2022 The climate is changing so we need to change the way we manage forests. This Messmate forest is to the north of our farm. It had been logged numerous times (log...s, posts and firewood) resulting in multiple stems from coppice regrowth. It is fully stocked and showing a high level of natural self thinning (approx. 25% of the trees will die every 10 yrs or so from competition) as it transitions, very slowly, to "old growth" Now it is designated for conservation = to be left alone. Being overstocked it is not providing much biodiversity and is a huge fire risk. A cool burn a few years ago has done little to reduce the long term risk and may have encouraged a more flammable understory e.g. bracken. We need a third approach. Locking up our forests and 'letting nature take its course' is not working ecologically, socially or economically. Indigenous burning has it own risks/impacts. We can do better. These are not pristine forests. We must look at options that reduce risk, enhance biodiversity and support low carbon industries. This will involve killing trees, and that can be good for biodiversity. Possible suggestion for this forest (which is close to people, farms, houses and roads and risky/expensive to burn regularly): - thin at least half the eucalypts leaving a range of sizes: this will reduce connectivity and hasten the transition from a dense regrowth forest to old growth (fewer large trees). - use the timber to fuel biomass electricity plants. Repeat thinning ever 10 years or so as the retained trees expand to fill the space. - occasionally mechanically chop half the understory to break fuel connectivity (create a mosaic of veg types) and stimulate regeneration of less flammable understory by bearing the soil in patches. This would increase diversity of species and forest structure while reducing fire risk and generating renewable energy. Making it happen: 1. review native veg rules that assume every tree is sacred. 2. reverse ban on native forest logging: transition industry/ machines/workers to this work. 3. allow native forest wood to be used for bioenergy. 4. accept that harvesting trees can be an act of conservation. Of course, it will never happen. Democracy requires leaders not followers! Rowan Reid Author of "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit" See: www.agroforestry.net.au

24.01.2022 ROAD TO PERISHER Paramedics making their way up to the Snowy Mountains this morning in style. #NSWAmbulance #STAYSAFE

24.01.2022 As I talk about in the Blackwood chapter of "Heartwood" I've started growing Hickory Wattle (Acacia falciformis)as a more drought tolerant (Climate Change adapt...ive) option for high quality Acacia timber. The glaucous (waxy green) coating on the leaves reduces moisture loss in dry environments (and provides frost protection in colder areas than we have). It is a long lived wattle with dark stable furniture timber (like Hickory from the USA). The selection we have came from a specialist native seed collector from Yass (NSW) who found a provenance that grew straight with small horizontal branches. We have been growing it for almost about 15 years and have proved that the seed is true to type (photo shows our 2nd generation). It tolerates a wide range of soils (we grow it on a heavy clay) but doesn't seem to like excessive water logging. I just gave the last of our select Hickory Wattle seed to Mike at Otway Greening Australian Native Plant Nursery. www.otwaygreening.com.au He's unsure about how many to grow. If you want farm-quantities of our Hickory Wattle seedlings in hiko trays for planting next winter get your order in to Mike Robinson-koss asap. I'll have more seed for sale after Christmas but it is a little late then for Mike to grow in time for winter planting. "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit" by Rowan Reid. www.agroforestry.net.au

23.01.2022 Found time to take the drone up again after moving the Taranaki Farm pastured hens this morning. I captured the move itself which I'll post a little later. This... clip shows the birds after the move, relaxing and foraging around their new enclosure. The hens are moved twice a week to fresh pasture and they're well versed in the routine. It's a time of excitment of opportunity. If the a-frame appears to be 'breathing' that's the stablised footage - there was a bit of wind this morning pushing the drone around. See more

23.01.2022 Good Morning, welcome to the last 5 day working week for January! Did I mention we have a new model for 2020? And did I mention this Lifestyle Series 7200GX has 4 Velux solar powered skylights?! #designerecotinyhomes #tinyhousesaustralia #tinyhouses #lifestyleseries7200gx #velux

22.01.2022 Two of our farm dams demonstrating hydrological functions of ‘keyline design’ after recent rains. Both dams (left and right) are supplied with rainfall via cat...chment lanes scolloped to the topographical character of the land at different altitudes. The larger is higher and once filled, contributes to the lower via an overflow - both independently fill with their relative laneways. The lower road visibly demonstrates this, being presently filled with water that’s moving slowly along the 1/400 (one metre fall over 400 metres length) catchment lane. This gentle grade prevents erosion. No corrective work has been needed after these dams were constructed in 2011. See more

21.01.2022 After the fires are out. After the communities are safe. After the financial aid starts; and it stops.... Then. We need to build food communities. And I mean community in its truest sense; everyday connection, working together, shared experiences. Economies which operate in solidarity and mutual respect. When the smoke from the fires found its way to the major capital cities, I think it drove home for many, the intensity of the situation. From that experience, there was a much needed acknowledgement from the public that financial and in-kind aid was needed. So how do we continue to foster the connections between country and city after the smoke clears? How do we bring country and city closer? Initiatives such as #emptyesky are great. Do that. A much needed economic boost will be had. But let’s talk lasting change. Small-scale producers and farmers often have little to no financial bufferand many won’t recover from the hits being taken. We’ll lose more and more family farms to this set of events and the ones to follow. For my family farm, Colin and Sally’s, we have our own food community, our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) members. They ride the farming waves with us, promising to take our meat over the year and paying us upfront or monthly to do so. It gives us surety, confidence andour food community. CSAs bring the city and country closer. After becoming organic, it is the next best thing we ever did. Our CSA members make our farming viable, and, in turn, we feed them. Pretty darn simple really. In an effort to create a larger food community around us, myself and Amelia Bright founded the Prom Coast Food Collective, now in its third year. This food community has been one of the most satisfying things I’ve been a part of, with no capital investment, we regularly return $20,000 a month in sales to our farmers and makers. A female-led, farmer-focused, initiative, we pull together every month, orders from those who purchase food from all our organic and regenerative farms. It is bootstrapped, make-do, empowering and my family has never eaten better. Farmers on the Collective receive 95% of the retail dollar. Unheard of in our commodified system. How do we manage it? We work as a team, we are creative in our systems thinking, we work on the idea that if it doesn’t work fairly for the farmers in our food community, then it doesn’t happen. Perhaps your area needs one? CSAs, buying groups, food collectives, farmer’s markets, veggie patches, food swaps. Grow it, or know it. You know what they say in the plastic-free communitywe don’t need one person doing this perfectly, we need a whole lot of people doing this imperfectly. The building of community remains a deep need after the fires. Don’t think of community-building as the soft option; the power in bringing people together is well-documented. #dontmakemedigoutmyartsdegreereadinglist I ask you to use this time of calamity to think about the what you put on your plate and why that matters. Support the farmers building soil, farming organically, farming well. Re-localise. Renew. Respect. We need to build food communities now more than ever. This is a call to arms, not alms. When the smoke clears, we ask you, not to just throw money into a tin, but to change the way you think about what you eat and how you buy it. You can make the most impact in the regional and rural communities in your state by supporting the farmers in it. Food communities, built in the wake of disaster, can heal, reinvigorate, and build-in resilience. #shakethehandofthefarmerwhogrowsyourfood #putyourethicsonthetable Photo: Not a stock image, but a picture of Colin...he's rad.

21.01.2022 One of Australia’s most successful pastoralists died last week. Tom Brinkworth was 83 years old. Starting with nothing, he built up an empire of farming propert...ies across Australia, but lived at his sheep and cattle station in South Australia’s south east. Notoriously media shy, he was a fan of Landline and allowed our reporters to cover some of his pursuits, including a massive cattle drive in 2014, his sponsorship and employment of displaced Zimbabwean farmers in 2005 and in 1999, the controversial flooding of his paddocks, turning them into wetlands. This is part of that report by Prue Adams.

20.01.2022 Trees for animal welfare and profit. Winter is lambing time on the Bambra Agroforestry Farm and across western Victoria. It is estimated that about 10% of all l...ambs born in the region die from cold stress induced by windchill. Slowing the wind increases the effective temperature by as much as 8 degrees Celsius. A paddock of pruned trees can reduce windspeed by 60% without reducing visibility or providing cover for foxes. If planting trees across the paddock is not possible or practical then consider multipuporse shelter belts like on Yan Yan Gurt West Farm. 20m tall belts around a 4ha lambing paddock will ensure that any lamb born will be in a spot with a windspeed less than 50% of an open paddock. www.agroforestry.net.au

19.01.2022 A meeting of two pastured chicken systems. A fleet of broiler shelter; in this case used to raise pullet hens, and the magnificent A-Frame mobile hen house that... will become their next home. Tomorrow I will hoist away these shelters and release the birds. A very satisfying moment after quiet a lot of work raising this flock of roughly 600 hens. See more

19.01.2022 Young hens are approaching the lay. These been living with the mobile A-Frame now for about a month. Now very familiar with the regular migrations, they’re enjoying their pasture life immensely. Hoping I can get their future eggs into our customers hands beginning September.

18.01.2022 Let's Make Kaiate Falls Swimmable Again Kaiate Falls is a very popular bathing spot located in the Papamoa Hills which currently carries a public health warning... against swimming due to E.coli contamination in the water. Our goal to revive the waterway is to plant 6700 native trees next winter. The trees will create a buffer between the waterway and the land, providing habitat for birds, fish and eels and filtering contaminants and sediment that can flow into the stream. We’re really excited about the project and the positive impact it will have on this precious local waterway. Check out how you can support the Kaiate Falls ripaian project here. How it works: You choose a bundle of native trees to buy, and the waterway you’d like them planted at choose Kaiate Falls! You receive a beautiful e-card (printable and electronic versions) to gift on to your loved one. Your trees get planted at Kaiate Falls next winter and get to work restoring this precious waterway. Gifting trees is a great way to give a zero-waste, sustainable gift that will have a positive impact for the local area. More trees please!! Link in comments

18.01.2022 I have just collected some seed from our well-formed selection of Hickory Wattle (Acacia falciformis) (as described in the Blackwood chapter of my book Heartwoo...d). This is a selection that was 'discovered' by John Weatherstone from Yass. He planted a small seed orchard and that's where I got our original seed. John has retired and is happy if I distribute his selection from our trees. I have introduced the long-lived Hickory Wattle (from NSW to Southern Victoria) as part of our climate change adaptation. The local Blackwood is suffering in the heat and the Hickory Wattle seems to tolerate the new climate. Some say the wood is as beautiful as Blackwood. Interestingly, the bark has one of the highest tannin contents of any Wattle (for tanning). To buy seed go to our online shop at: http://agroforestry.net.au/products/products.asp Like other Acacia, the seeds need pretreatment, Mike at Otway Greening Australian Native Plant Nursery suggests: "Pour boiling water over seed in a coffee cup and let stand for a day. Sow seed. Also worthwhile adding rhizobial bacteria nodules to the potting mix so the wattles really get going quickly." The rhizobia can be collected by crushing root nodules collected from the roots of healthy wattles. If you sow now you can have seedlings for planting in early spring. Easy to grow. If you want a great little farm-tree nursery (in Victoria) to grow you some Hickory Wattle from our seed for 2020 planting please place an order with Mike at Otway Greening Australian Native Plant Nursery See: www.otwaygreening.com.au Rowan

18.01.2022 Where they were, where they’re going. Also ways migrating and providing nutrients and cultivation to the soil - nourishing and building the life within the soil; a most complex and essential biome, yet largely unseen.

17.01.2022 That’s what you call a ‘hard left’! Surprisingly, despite being 10 metres x 5 metres x 4.5 metres, I can pivot this skid based structure almost on a dime - espe...cially in Summer when the souls are drier. You can see my turn from the orientation of the skid feeders which pull along behind the building when I’m moving it. Fun! See more

17.01.2022 THE VENOMOUS GILA MONSTER With skin resembling the colour of flowing lava and its prehistoric appearance, the Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) was the species... of lizard I was hoping to find and photograph most during a trip to Arizona last year. These lizards are venomous, however they pose no danger to humans unless captured or handled incorrectly. Their diet is largely the contents of mammal, bird, and reptile nests. Feeding on eggs or small helpless prey doesn’t require the use of venom, and while it may aid in digestion, the venom is most likely used for defence against predators. The venom inflicts immediate severe pain on the bite victim, followed by weakness and a rapid drop in blood pressure. To deliver its venom, the Gila monster possesses recurved, grooved teeth. When it bites down with its powerful jaws venom enters the wound via large, elongated venom glands are under each side of the lower jaw. When they bite a predator (or silly human who handles one without the relevant training/ experience) they tend to hang on and ensure their venom is delivered. The bite victim usually has a hard time removing the lizard which only serves to increase the pain and discomfort of a bite. Like all native wildlife they are an integral part of the ecosystem, but for the general public, they are best left admired from a distance PRINTS AVAILABLE

16.01.2022 Witness the balanced beauty of 600 laying hens on Taranaki Farm pasture. Moved year-round, twice weekly; their mobile shed is build on skids and the birds are p...rotected from foxes by light, portable electric netting. Always of pasture, always outdoors, pasture foraging, dust-bathing and laying their eggs on fresh hay inside cozy nestboxes. This is the primo production! Video taken this evening with my drone. Enjoy! Ben (enlarge in HD for best results and watch until the end when I round them up) See more

16.01.2022 Our 33-yr-old Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) on the bandsaw. The short pruned butt-log was 55cm in diameter. I milled it into 1.5 inch slabs and will soak the w...hite sapwood in boron to protect it from Lyctus before drying the slabs in the solar kiln. Perfect for live-edge coffee tables. There has been a lot of debate about whether it is even possible to prune Blackwood for timber and whether rapid growth reduces the colour of the heartwood. I can only show what we have been able to achieve and share my knowledge of the science and practice of growing high-quality timber on farms. To see a video of the milling check out our previous post Bambra Agroforestry Farm More in the Blackwood chapter of "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit" Available in bookshops or from our web site: www.agroforestry.net.au (now with free postage worldwide). Rowan Norwood Portable Sawmills from Hardwood Mills Australia #agroforestry #farmforestry #sawmilling #permaculture #Landcare #treebooks #timber #portablesawmill #regenerativeagriculture

15.01.2022 https://pureadvantage.org/ourregenerativefuturecampaign/

15.01.2022 Shelling Tagasaste (tree lucerne) seed pods harvested this evening from earlier mature plantings. Many hundreds of nitrogen fixing trees for plantings this year. Plus, bonus tagasaste podding song!!

14.01.2022 One tree = Many values Many trees of many species on many farms = Multipurpose "TapesTree" of forests across the agricultural landscape. Oaks for aesthetics, fi...re protection, shade, acorns and, one day, furniture timber. If you're growing trees for a single reason you're missing the potential of #multipurposeforestry. #agroforestry #farmforestry #permaculture

14.01.2022 First warm days of the year are firing up our Solar Kiln. This year I've added misting to prevent the humidity dropping too low when the temperature rises quick...ly. The misting starts automatically when the humidity drops below the set level. I've got it set at 70% for a load of eucalypt. Hot air can hold more water so when the temperature rises in the kiln the humidity drops. If the humidity drops to less than 50% early in the drying cycle it can cause cracking and distortion in eucalypts. In effect, I'm sweating the timber to extract the moisture from the core without drying the surface of the boards too fast. The 2nd display shows the "absolute humidity" which is the amount of water held in a cubic meter of air. Shows hotter air in the kiln has almost 3x more water. As it cools in the evening this moisture condenses on the timber thereby relaxing the moisture stress in the boards. More at www.agroforestry.net.au. Kiln is a "Mini Pro" from https://solarkilns.com/t1-mini-pro/

14.01.2022 Expeditioners at Macquarie Island are delighted with how the natural environment is bouncing back since the eradication of introduced pests nearly ten years ago.... The Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Program is an amazing success story: the first time in the world that rabbits, rats, mice (and in a previous program, cats) have all been removed from an island of this size. Before-and-after photos show the transformation now that rabbits no longer strip the sub-Antarctic vegetation and erode the hillsides. Find out more at www.antarctica.gov.au//this-week-at-macquarie-island-7-feb Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service

14.01.2022 Growing trees for conservation and profit "I have read many definitions of what is a conservationist. I suspect the best is written not with the pen, but with ...the axe. It is a matter of what a man thinks while chopping" Aldo Leopold (American ecologist: 1887-1948) It's time the thinking woodsmen (and women) reclaim the title of conservationist. Photo: our 33-yr-old multipurpose riparian buffer provides for soil erosion control, wildlife habitat, stock shelter and timber. Www.agroforestry.net.au #aldoleopold, #agroforestry #farmforestry #sawmilling #permaculture #Landcare

14.01.2022 Our friends felled a Sydney Blue Gum in their backyard. It was impossible to get the log out, so I took my Logosol Portable Sawmills Bigmill system in. We quart...ered the log for resawing on the bandsaw later. A good quality portable chainsaw milling system is a great tool for salvaging timber. The Bigmill system starts with a simple jig that fits on the saw. Then you fit the running bar to the log. The brackets allow you to swing the running rail 90 degrees. https://www.logosol.com.au///big-mill-system-basic-petrol/ You need a pretty powerful saw to rip eucalypts (we used a Stihl 044). I fit a special ripping chain (thinner chain sharpened at 10 degrees rather than 30) that leaves a cleaner finish. You also need a thinner bar. For my first sawmill I fitted the Timberjig to the chainsaw and made up my own running board out of timber flooring. Once I had a square edge I used the jig to cut boards. More details in the Silky Oak chapter of my book "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit" For more like this: www.agroforestry.net.au Rowan Reid with Josquin Tibbits #agroforestry #farmforestry #chainsawmill #sawmilling #logosol

14.01.2022 I’m captivated by this image. Having just relieved seed enough for a forest of coast redwoods that I will germinate this year, I mind wanders to what might beco...me of the effort. Should we be thinking about what we might create, for future generations? What majestic natural wonders we might gift the future? My sequoia forest arrived in an envelope, the contents in a tiny bag. Just imagine for a moment how extraordinary that is. I am... can you? See more

14.01.2022 Sound on! Sometimes Aussie birds just take your breath away! This lyrebird has got quite the repertoire! ... : Four Finger Photography in Adelaide, SA.

13.01.2022 The NSW NPWS completed its feral animal control aerial shooting program across Kosciusko National Park and surrounding conservation reserves last week. The resu...lts were a total of 561 pest animals being culled 192 fallow deer, 149 sambar deer, 14 red deer, 96 pigs, 105 goats, 4 wild dogs and 1 fox. This operation was part of the bushfire recovery response program to reduce the adverse impact of feral pests in areas of the reserves that have been impacted by recent bushfires, as well as part of an ongoing 3 year plan using Saving Our Species program funding to reduce impacts of deer and pigs on high conservation areas. These high conservation areas include the montane bogs and fens threatened ecological communities across the park. Aerial shooting is not used to control feral horses in NSW national parks, and therefore horses were not targeted as part of this program. https://www.facebook.com/TheProjectTV/videos/782885162221917/ An update to this post: A polite reminder that whilst the Australian Alps National Parks page welcomes and encourages comment and respectful discussion on the issues we post about, please keep your comments and input, relevant, constructive and courteous. If you want your comments or posts to appear and remain on the page please don’t use abuse, threats or profanity, towards the page, staff or other contributors. Many comments have had to be blocked and deleted as a result. Referring to staff as ‘liars’ 'murderers' or 'nazis', or making accusations that they are ‘corrupt’ or engaged in ‘illegal activity’ without provision of appropriate evidence or reporting is not acceptable. Those that choose to continue to ignore these requests to remain civil, will be blocked from the page permanently. Thank You

13.01.2022 Piglets for your enjoyment

12.01.2022 Farm drains directly entering streams, rivers, lakes, and harbours carry silt and nutrients which, over time, degrade water quality. In the Waikato, the small p...eat lakes, west coast dune lakes and large lakes to the north of Huntly have been very sensitive to land use within their catchments because of their limited depth. Poor water quality can have a major impact on stock health, recreational values, food harvesting and the aesthetic value of our streams, rivers and lakes. Planting fenced riparian areas adds further benefit to the environment as plants function like a sieve, helping to filter out sediment and nutrients before they enter waterways. Stabilising riparian plants help prevent land erosion and increase the habitat for native wildlife. Evergreen and deciduous shrubs make effective plantings for stream buffers, either combined with trees or on their own. Enhancing riparian buffers provides excellent opportunities to improve both aquatic and terrestrial ecology including the following: Shade from riparian vegetation regulates water temperatures and improves dissolved oxygen levels in streams, allowing more sensitive species to thrive.

12.01.2022 Two of the Farm Retreat apartments - third one is invisible

12.01.2022 It’s our responsibility to restore and enhance the natural water systems of this country. Especially in these troubling times. They will hold water longer and ...hydrate further. This one on Taranaki Farm has been fenced off for 10 years now and with this effort, has regenerated into a respectable example of what was once very common in our south eastern Australian landscapes - a functional flood plane that grows healthier and more resilient each year. See more

12.01.2022 Red Meat Profit Partnership groups have their funding extended to the end of September. This is one of the few opportunities you will ever have in using your l...evies to access relevant information specific to your business. We have spaces in groups throughout New Zealand curious about regenerative farming, if you would like to join one or start such a group contact RMPP. If you are interested in other topics contact RMPP to find groups in your area. See more

11.01.2022 Last week we were thankful for a story on Better Homes & Gardens. One of the tiny houses featured was our newest design variation of our Sojourner model with stairs & standing room in the loft. Here Scott gives you an in depth tour of our latest creation. We hope you like it!

11.01.2022 hello folks, we're currently regenerating 5 hectares of bush fire damaged landscape. I thought I'd share some reflections on the early process. First step after... assessing the situation is applying good old black gold! few benefits of shovelling compost: - feeds organic matter to soil, especially great for soil that is clay heavy + lacks plant life. organic matter supplies carbon, and many other vital nutrients/trace minerals to soil and acts as a sponge for water whilst creating habitat for soil microorganisms. compost is very healthy for the earth. it's been really helpful to my mental health too, to step on soft ground (our soil feels like terracotta at the moment!) and know that with love + labour the fields will be green and healthy again. - you can listen to really good music while you do this, my choice for this session was boris brejcha. it's funky fitness. i think i did at least one hundred squats and my arms feel worked. - by supporting the production of compost, we encourage business that cycles waste into a wholesome, regenerative tool. imagine if instead of cool burns to reduce bush fire risk (the window for which is becoming shorter to execute safely) some of the extra biomass within the forest was removed and added to compost which could then be applied to regenerate land, halt desertification and provide lots of small businesses a carbon positive income. If anyone around the Snowy Valleys region in NSW wants to get involved with some fun compost spreading get in touch :) and if you have your own experience in revitalizing farm/bush land post fire would love to hear what you found most useful

09.01.2022 A 60 second aerial exploration of what effects poultry has on fertilising pasture on Taranaki Farm. Drone pic from this afternoon. Enjoy.

09.01.2022 Let's be honest: If land is devoid of trees it is because the landholders don't really want them; don't believe they will retain the rights to manage the trees;... or, have come to expect someone else will pay for them. Handing out free trees to farmers is not going to change this. It can actually make it worse: The trees almost always come with conditions restricting design and management options. We also know that handing out free trees to some only discourages others from spending their own time and money planting trees. We don't need more subsidised tree-planting projects promising to plant millions of trees. Growing forests is more than just planting trees. We do need more tree growers: landholders who establish, and manage, forests because they want them. If farmers want trees they'll search out the knowledge and find the time and money. We do need landowners that have the knowledge, skills and mentoring required to manage their forests over many years. We do need conservation legislation that encourages (rather than discourages) farmers to retain and manage trees. Farmers are clearing native regrowth (and not planting native trees) because they fear losing their property rights. We do need community and government support for the monetisation of tree products and services to encourage landholders to invest, manage and maintain their forests - even if it involves harvesting some trees. The irony is: if you want farmers to grow more native trees for conservation you must support their right to harvest those they do plant (or naturally regenerate). Rowan Reid Owner of the Bambra Agroforestry Farm (est. 1987) Co-founder of the Otway Agroforestry Network (est. 1993) Originator of the Australian Master TreeGrower (est. 1996) Originator of the Agroforestry course at the Uni. of Melb. (est. 1991) Author of "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit". www.agroforestry.net.au #agroforestry #farmforestry #landcare #regenag #permaculture

08.01.2022 This reimagined wind turbine is much more efficient and eye-pleasing.

08.01.2022 What if one farm could save the world? THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM is out now on disc & digital.

08.01.2022 More mix pasture-raised packages going out to our legendary monthly box subscribers today! Pasture-raised excellence in chicken, pork, eggs, sausages and bacon. #pasturefarming #grassfed #localfood #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarm

07.01.2022 A wooden chair that's made without screws or nails - you don't see them much anymore! Tom and his dad Glen from Kyneton, VIC, are keeping the tradition on Windsor chairmaking alive.

06.01.2022 Bambra Tree Sleeves - A flexible tree guard for wallabies and sheep We use these for both natives and deciduous trees in paddocks with cross-bred sheep, wallabi...es and kangaroos. For details about assembly and use see: http://agroforestry.net.au/main.asp?_=Tree%20Guards We plant tiny seedlings in these tubes (using a short stick to hold the sleeve away from the seedling). In most cases the seedling will reach the top of the tube by Christmas. After a couple of years, when the tree is stable, we remove the post to reuse. The plastic stays on to protect the bark. I then cut the plastic off before it starts getting tight around the trunk. More on our web site: http://agroforestry.net.au/main.asp?_=Tree%20Guards We only sell what we use or produce ourselves: Works out at approx. $2.75/treeguard (2m post, 1.2m sleeve and 3 ties) You can purchase the tubing in rolls and the posts from: http://agroforestry.net.au/products/display.asp #agroforestry #Landcare #permaculture #treebooks #farmforestry #forestry #trees #heartwood #bambraagroforestryfarm #bambra #deansmarsh #treeguards Propagate Ventures

06.01.2022 6BUILDINGS - 148 pages, 90 diagrams It is with great pleasure that we announce the release of the epic 6BUILDINGS chapter of the Regrarians eHandbook with its... 148 pages, 90 incredible diagrams and many informative tables. We think this is our best chapter yet and that's saying something! Please click on this link to get your copy: https://cli.re/6Buildings In other news the manuscripts for the 7FENCING, 8SOILS & 10ENERGY chapters have broadly been completed. 8SOILS will be the biggest chapter of the entire book and we've really enjoyed putting it together. We've now onto V5 of the 7FENCING chapter layout and it shouldn't be too far away. 6BUILDINGS took 23 versions in the layout phase by comparison, but it is a lot longer and has a lot more diagrams and details that Andrew Jeeves laboured over creating. That leaves the 9ECONOMY chapter the COVID-19 period has given us a all a great pause to contemplate the original meaning of the word along with the scope and scale of our engagement with all that it means today. To that end I feel blessed in a way in that we have been able to have this historic event make us frame this important chapter in a different way to how I was looking to do it before. Finally, thanks to an extremely generous and supportive client the costs of the remaining production phase of the book has been supported. This same client is also underwriting the initial (hardcover) print run which for a high quality 1200+ page book such as this is not an inconsiderable cost. This guarantees that we will be able to print this at our local printer (Mcphersons Printing Group in Maryborough in regional Victoria) and get it out there! And so we hope that you enjoy this latest chapter and once again thank you for your support. Yours & Growing, Darren J. Doherty, CPAg (AIA) Regrarians Ltd. https://cli.re/6Buildings

06.01.2022 In this episode we're checking out Clare's beautifully crafted campervan! She spent over a year designing it down to the millimeter and now lives and travels in... it full-time. The van is a complete tiny home - with a kitchen, toilet, shower, office, and bed, all in a vehicle that's just 6m long! You can help me make more episodes by supporting me on Patreon! There are some pretty cool rewards and you can support from as little as $1 a month https://patreon.com/jordanosmond :) Follow Clare Website: https://vancamerawoman.weebly.com Art: https://www.redbubble.com/people/colinsart/shop?asc=u #vanlife

05.01.2022 With parasites being the main production limiting disease of livestock I thought I would start with this for my first cattle post. As with some of the other posts I have put the info in pictures that you can save to your phone for further reading at a later date

04.01.2022 Had to break a broiler fleet up this morning after multiple days of rain demanded a course correction. The chicken’s feet action bring the water to the surface,... or rather trample down the vegetation. Given the forecast, a change of direction will ensure dry feet. You can see back all the many daily moves we’ve made with these birds. The water gleaming on those most recent as the plants slowly spring back to growth; the further back, the green and more abundant the recovery. See more

04.01.2022 Our box subscription customers will enjoy their Taranaki Farm produce as we kick off our home delivery program this morning. Produce packs en route for those lucky customers who joined our program. Want to join up? http://www.taranakifarm.com.au/boxes

04.01.2022 It's hot (43 degrees) and the fire risk is extreme (FFDI over 100)! Quick, plant more oaks. Our spring planting of Turkey and Californian Oaks are coming along ...well in our Bambra Tree Sleeves. Our older English Oak are looking good as a radiation shield to the north of the house. We prune our oaks for timber. Note on Oak Toxicity: there are reports of stock being affected when eating acorns or buds. We haven't experienced any problems but farmers should be aware of the risks. See: https://www.msdvetmanual.com//overview-of-quercus-poisoning Fact: our fast grown English Oak is more than 20% denser than old growth oak in Europe. The faster oak grows the stronger the wood. Learn more about our tree guards and growing oaks in "Heartwood" www.agroforestry.net.au

03.01.2022 The 4th generation of the Salatin family are making their way at Polyface Farm - here are Andrew, Travis and Lauren way back in 2014 in our multi-award winning ...Polyfaces: The Film Encouraging young people to be involved in agricultural production has never been more vital and is essential to the future of us all. #WorldEnvironmentDay June 5th #1Climate #Succession #JoelSalatin #FieldsOfFarmers Watch it now Www.polyfaces.com See more

03.01.2022 Only 50 mins from Melbourne, visit the Taranaki Farm Shop for 10% off pastured eggs - this weekend, and while stocks last. Also stock up on your pastured chicken and pork. 5 Falloons Rd Woodend. 11am - 4pm Saturday and Sunday.

02.01.2022 6 months ago, I bogged this A-frame, at this very location. As the building is constructed on skids, this is a rare occurrence. I escaped the slop by reversing ...the towing bar chains and pulling it backwards. All of this was conducted with 600 confused chickens circling the building. The A-frame went along its typical weekly migration, only in a different paddock as a result. Half a year and 30 migrations later, it’s returned to the site of the bogging, only now it’s Summer and the ground is firm. I’ll now take it through the front paddocks as was the plan for Spring. Adjusting plans is essential when farming; expect the unexpected... See more

02.01.2022 Averaging 10-12 pastured pigs each week for the last month. Phew, looking forward to a quite week next - oh wait, 900 pastured chickens incoming? beef scheduled also! That’s taking care of our monthly home delivery box subscribers.

01.01.2022 Our creek crossing today and 33 years ago: as featured in the international version of Charles Massy's book. Before, it was a weed infested, eroding drain. Tod...ay it is a multipurpose riparian buffer providing shelter for adjacent paddocks, a corridor for biodiversity, a trap for nutrients, a security blanket for the soil AND logs like this 31-yr-old Shining Gum I just harvested from the creekside today. We'll get more than a cubic metre of KD F17 structural timber from this pruned log alone and some feature grade boards from the top logs. Locking up about 2 tons of CO2 for decades. And, back in the creek a Silky Oak that was being crowded out by this tree will flourish. Bambra Agroforestry Farm: Where cutting down trees for timber is good for conservation. #agroforestry #farmforestry #sawmilling #permaculture #Landcare #woodland #forestry #trees #heartwood www.agroforestry.net.au

01.01.2022 Rowan will be speaking at the National Landcare Conference in Sydney in August about how growing and harvesting trees on farms (both native and exotic) for timb...er can be better for biodiversity, locking up carbon, intercepting nutrients before they enter waterways, and controlling soil erosion, than just planting trees and "letting nature take its course". Imagine a future where growing trees on farms for profit was an act of conservation. This is forestry as you have never seen it! Of course the way we grow and harvest timber will need to change, but so will our understanding on what constitutes Landcare. Conference link: https://nationallandcareconference.org.au/stream-speakers/ For more see Rowan's book: "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit" www.agroforestry.net.au #landcare #agroforestry #silvopasture

01.01.2022 Bambra Agroforestry Farm; where harvesting an 85cm diameter, 32-yr-old, high-pruned eucalypt tree from a multipurpose riparian buffer strip for profit IS an act... of conservation. Www.agroforestry.net.au #agroforestry #farmforestry #sawmilling #permaculture #Landcare #treebooks #timber #portablesawmill #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativeforestry

01.01.2022 Walk-in freezer is fully resupplied! About 5 tonnes of crycovac’ed premium Taranaki Farm pastured produce for our box subscribers. Time to get back to the outdoor field work which I enjoy much more than the butchery.

01.01.2022 Just performed a two stage 180 degree (90 degrees x 2) of this mobile A-Frame - home to a laying hen flock of 700 chickens. The full u-turn was finished inside ...one week between with two typical ‘migrations’. Over the next couple of months, the hens will travel parallel to (but not directly over), earlier Summer locations that they cultivated and naturally fertilized - ground that has since regenerated with lush renewal ahead of coming milder autumn conditions. This is regenerative, carbon sequestrating, soil build, pastured-based farming with the tastiest nutritious eggs an ecologically sensitive and economically necessary by-product. Can’t steward the land without earning a living!

01.01.2022 Check out the progress of the fires across East Gippsland since November 2019, with this visual map. CFA Gippsland Forest Fire Management Victoria East Gippslan...d Shire Council East Gippsland Outdoors. Victoria, Australia. Love East Gippsland Bruthen Inn Hotel Bruthen Pizza & Takeaway Bruthen Fire Brigade Albion Hotel Tambo Valley Golf Club Ensay Winery Swifts Creek Bakery Swifts Creek IGA Omeo Caravan Park Hilltop Hotel Omeo Omeo Ski Hire Mossi-Tambo Fire Brigade Omeo CFA Tambo Valley Bowling Club Parks Victoria ABC Gippsland TRFM SES Tambo Valley Unit Eastvicmedia Buchan Caves Hotel Gippsland Times 9 News Gippsland WIN News Gippsland See more

01.01.2022 This is the little-known story of New Zealand's "valley of abandoned dreams" -- parcels of crown land awarded to 96 World War I veterans. The trouble was the vi...rgin bush was so remote, and the environment so hostile, that farming it proved to be impossible -- destroying dreams of some of that generation's greatest heroes. Via Seven Sharp.